Editorial: New funding offers relief for Squamish businesses hit with vandalism

Challenges are par for the course of being a business owner. 

However, graffiti and vandalism aren't at the top of the expected list of obstacles for most strapped and stressed entrepreneurs. 

Nor should they be.

And yet, in Squamish, as in other communities, both are annoyingly common. It is a blight on our otherwise welcoming and beautiful town. 

It is not inviting for customers, tourists and locals alike to see tagging, broken windows or other damage to businesses.

And often, vandalism begets more vandalism.

Squamish Chamber of Commerce's executive director, Chris Fehr, says that graffiti and vandalism are additional costs that the business owner often must navigate on top of many other costs. 

"The unfortunate reality is that this is a senseless act that impacts the businesses' bottom line," he said. 

The provincial government is about to open up some funding for small businesses throughout B.C., to help recover costs from such vandalism, and for prevention of it.

Applications for the $10.5-million Securing Small Business Rebate Program open on Nov. 22.

Local businesses can apply for up to $2,000 each for the cost of repairs, and up to $1,000 for prevention methods. Applications are retroactive to Jan. 1, 2023.

(Apply or find more information at: bcchamber.org/securing-small-business-rebate). 

Kerry Neil, executive director of the Downtown Squamish Business Improvement Association said that In downtown Squamish, graffiti poses a significant challenge.

“The costs of property damage can be very high and I'm glad to see that government support is on its way,” she said in an emailed statement to The Chief. 

“Currently, we are engaged in discussions with the company Goodbye Graffiti to explore collaborative avenues. We aim to support downtown businesses by helping to facilitate the grant application process and devise effective strategies for immediate relief and the prevention of graffiti and vandalism.”

Of course, the funding isn't a big windfall for local businesses.

The cost to remove graffiti varies depending on the product used and what was damaged, but it isn't cheap. 

Several tags on the Gibsons and Area Community Centre, for example,  were estimated to total more than $5,000, according to the Coast Reporter.

"The government funding that will be available as of Nov. 22nd, is a start to assisting these small businesses, but does fall short of the costs these businesses will incur," Fehr said in an emailed statement to The Squamish Chief. 

And it is important to recognize that vandalism doesn't happen in a vacuum. 

People who are frustrated or bored or who do not feel a part of their community may resort to damaging it. 

As Fehr notes, getting at the root of the problem is also required. 

"It's important to investigate the varied preventable measures from social programs that offer outlets for those that vandalize to physical prevention measures that can be utilized by small businesses. The costs of these programs and measures often exceed the funding offered.”